DESOPADEC: Nobody can threaten government – Uduaghan Says Delta Oil production capacity has dropped to 19%

By: Tonebsky Nesta

Executive Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan has declared that nobody can threaten the State government in its on-going reform to make the state oil producing areas development commission more effective and accountable.

The Governor, who made this declaration during a special inter-dominational thanksgiving service held at the Christ Missionaries Crusaders’ Church in Warri to mark the 19th anniversary of the creation of Delta State, stated that “I will do what is right because I pray before doing anything”. Dr. Uduaghan who expressed optimism as far his chances in the 2011 gubernatorial poll in the state is concerned, vowed that when the time come for appointment he will appoint only credible people to pilot the affairs of DESOPADEC.

While acknowledging the challenges of road construction in spite of over 350 billion naira contracts awarded in that regard from Ibori administration to his, the former Delta State Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government averred that due to the May 13th incident Delta State now produce 19% of oil as against 25% last year. He blamed the damage on the activities of some contractors and youths. Dr. Uduaghan noted that the local content bill recently signed by President Goodluck Jonathan has great potential for grassroots development and disclosed plan by his administration to “set up a committee within a week to liaise with the federal government” on its implementation. According to the Governor, the biggest challenges of his administration are ethnic harmony and insecurity “which has been managed through prayers” with the support of religious and traditional rulers.

Earlier in a sermon, the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejaor admonished all Deltans to look at a state where the emphasis will be on building for “our children”. The widely traveled preacher who was preaching on the topic “The Power of Blessing” with text taken from Genesis 25vs 5 and 6 observed that there was suspicion among the tribes when Delta State was created, noting however that “there has been a great improvement”. Pastor Ayo who stressed the difference between ‘the blessing’ and ‘blessings’ advised people of the state not to “set tribes against tribe, people against people for our selfish goal’.

Fresh Angle can authoritatively report that while the wife of the state government, Mrs. Roli Shiela Uduaghan, immediate past Secretary to Delta State government, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, two past military administrators of Delta State, Brigadier General Bassey Asuquo, Navy Captain Walter Feghabor and some members of the state House of Assembly as well as some civil commissioners graced the ceremony, the Delta State Deputy governor, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama (SAN) and the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Sam Obi were conspicuously absent at the service. There was a large turn out of traditional rulers, political women groups and religious ministers from different parts of the state.